Dancing toy



H. A. MANN.

DANCING TOY.

APPLICATION FILED H55. 3, 1915.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

NVENTOR W/ TNESSES HORACE A. MANN, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

DANCING TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 19118.

Application filed February 3, 1915. Serial No. 5,870.

To all 107mm 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, HonAon A. MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dancing Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in dancing toys, and has for its object to provide a simply constructed toy dancer, hav ing a plurality'of motions under the positive control of the operator, so that they can be produced to closely simulate the motions of a human dancer.

Fundamentally, the invention consists of a figure composed of a plurality of movable sections, a tossing rod or handle attached to said figure by means ofwhichthe up and down and lateral motions are produced, and an operating device attached to said tossing handle by means of which the movable sections of the figure are actuated in unison with the movements imparted by the tossing handle.

In the accompanying drawing and de scription, I give precise constructional details, in order that the operation may be clearly explained, but I reserve the right to modify these details in the process of manufacture within the limits of the invention itself.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the entire figure in female attire, the clothing being shown in dotted outline only. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the figure with the cloth ing and stuffing of the body omitted. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale; showing the supporting plate, with portions of the legs and their hinges, and the positions which the legs assume when operated. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view; showing one of the leg extensions impinging upon the supporting plate when the body is turned upon its axis to the left. And Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view, taken on line 55 of Fig. 2, designed especially to show the construction of the lug which supports the upright shaft; also showing the adjacent elongated eye of the leg hinge.

In the drawing, 2 represents the body frame piece, which is preferably made of sheet metal cut into a shape resembling the outlines of a human trunk or body. At its lower extremity, three tongues are provided. The two outer tongues 3 and 3 are turned up toward the front into elongated eyes for forming parts of the leg hinges, and the middle tongue 4 is turned backward at right angles and pierced with a round hole, for forming a horizontal lug to receive the upright supporting shaft 5. Another tongue is struck out of the metal of the body 2 to form a lug 4, comprising the upper bearing for the shaft 5. A narrow projection 7 is provided at the top of the plate 2 to which.

the head of the figure may be attached. Projections 8 and S are also provided. at the shoulders to which the arms, formed of sections of coiled springs 9 and 9 are frictionally attached. A hole 10 is pierced in the lower corner of the plate 2, the object of which will be explained farther on. Thread holes 11 are also pierced in plate 2 for sewing the body stuffing to said plate.

12 represents a central supporting crossplate, also cut from sheet metal, and has two slots 13 and 13 near its front edge in parallel alinement, leaving two tongues 14: and 14. These tongues are curved upwardly and outwardly until near their ends where they are curved downwardly at reduced radii.

Attached to the plate 12 is the upright shaft 5, which is formed of stiff wire and is firmly secured by passing twice through the said plate at its bent part, as shown plainly in Figs. 1 and 4. This wire rod is then extended horizontally toward the rear to form the tossing handle 15. The outer end 15 of the handle is bent into a shape suitable to be grasped and held firmly in the hand.

Attached to the tossing handle is the reciprocating-rod 16, also formed of wire, its

outer end being coiled loosely about the handle 15, as at 17, for the double purpose of forming a sliding bearing upon the tossing rod, and a knurl for the thumb to press against. The other end of this rod has an eye formed upon it which is loosely secured in the hole 10 of plate 2.

The body member 2 is rotatably mounted 'upon the shaft 5 by means of the lugs e and a. The upper end of the shaft is bent to form a retainer. The body then rests upon the plate 12, and may be turned to the right or left within the limits of its prescribed movements. It will be seen that when the reciprocating rod 16 is moved by the thumb, the body will be turned to the right or to the left, according to whether the rod 16 is pulled or pushed.

The leg members 18 and 18 are hinged to the plate 2 by means of upper reduced extensions 19 and 19, composed of wire rods bent into suitable shape, and their bent ends secured in the elongated eyes 3 and 3'. The leg extensions 19 and 19 pass through the slots 13 and 13 of the plate 12. Their form and relative positions are such that when the body is turned, the legs will impinge upon plate 12 in such manner that one leg will be elevated to the horizontal position, while the other leg will fall to a vertical position. These movements will take place alternately and successively as the body is oscillated by the manipulation of the rod 16. Different degrees of elevation can be produced at the option of the operator thus adding to the number and variety of steps that the dancer is capable of imitating.

The operation of the toy dancer is as follows: Taking the tossing handle firmly in the hand, the thumb is placed upon the knurl 17. Vibratory up and down motions are given to the figure in dance time, also appropriate lateral movements accompanied by oscillations from the vertical by turning the wrist slightly. At the same time the thumb is kept busy operating the reciproeating device in unison With the other motions, turning the body and lifting the legs alternately and successively, all of the various movements being produced rhytlnni cally and according to the fancy of the operator. Owing to the many combinations of movements possible, a large number of steps and dances can be imitated, producing an extremely realistic eii'ect, and afi'ording opportunity for the exercise of much ingenuity and skill on the part of the operator.

The figure may be dressed to represent either sex, provided the features are made to correspond, and the form of the figure lends itself readily for simple and inex pensive clothing.

Having thus described the principles, con.- struction, and operation of my invention, I make the following claims for which I ask protection by Letters Patent:

1. A toy dancer, consisting of a figure composed of a plurality of movable parts including a trunk member pivotally mounted upon a slotted supporting plate, the said plate, leg members pivotally connected to the said trunk member, and engaging the slots in said supporting plate, a tossing handle attached to said supporting plate, and an operating member consisting of aconnecting rod having one end movably mounted upon the said tossing handle and its other end pivotally attached to one side of the said figure whereby oscillating motions may be imparted to the figure and thence to the leg members through their engagements with the trunk member and the slots in the supporting plate.

2. In a toy dancer, the combination of a figure composed of a plurality of movable sections, a supporting plate upon which the said figure is pivotally mounted, a tossing handle attached to the said supporting plate, and an operating member consisting of a connecting rod having one end pivotally attached to the said figure and its other end movably mounted upon the said tossing han- 1 dle whereby oscillatory motions may be imparted to the figure and its movable parts.

3. A toy dancer, consisting of a figure having a trunk member pivotally mounted upon a slotted supporting plate, leg members hinged to said trunk member and adapted to engage the slots in the said supporting plate, a tossing handle attached to said supporting plate, and an operating member consisting of a reciprocating rod having one end pivotally attached to the trunk member, and its other end movably mounted upon the said tossing handle Whereby the said trunk member may be oscillated upon its axis and motion imparted to the leg members through their engagements with the trunk member and the slots in the supporting plate.

4. A toy dancer consisting of a figure as described, having a trunk member pivotally mounted upon a slotted supporting plate, leg members pivotally connected to the said trunk member and engaging the slots in the supporting plate, a tossing handle attached to the said supporting plate, and a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected to the said figure and the other end movably mounted upon the said tossing handle and adapted to be moved back and forth by the thumb of the hand holding the tossing handle, whereby oscillatory motions may be imparted to the figure and its movable parts.

5. A toy dancer as described having a trunk member pivotally mounted with reference to its longitudinal axis upon a slotted supporting plate, leg members having pivotal connections with the trunk member and adapted to engage the slots in the supporting plate whereby lifting and falling motions will be alternately imparted to the said leg members when the trunk member is oscillated upon its axis, a tossing handle attached to the said supporting plate, and an operating member consisting of a connecting rod having one end pivotally attached to the trunk member and the slots in the said 10 the trunk member and its other end movably supporting plate.

mounted upon the said tossing handle ad- In testimony whereof I affix my signature jacent t0 the hand hold and adapted to be in presence of two witnesses.

actuated by the thumb whereby an oscillating motion will be iniparted to the trunk HORACE MANN member and its fixed appendages, and lift- WVitnesses: ing and falling motions imparted to the leg HERMAN H. SOHOPFER, members through their engagements with HARRY DE WALLACE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

